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Abstract

This cases series describes the profile of adult patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia [‎APL]‎ at a referral hospital in Qatar of 34 acute myeloid leukaemia [‎AML]‎ cases diagnosed, 11 [‎32%]‎ were classified as APL. Disseminated intravascular coagulation was common at presentation [‎91%]‎. Severe thrombocytopenia was seen in 73%, leukocytosis in 55% and severe anaemia in 45%. Only 2 patients were of the classic hypergranular type. In the remaining 9 patients, 3 morphological subtypes were recognized: microgranular variant [‎6 patients]‎, hyperbasophilic [‎2 patients]‎ and regular nuclear outline M3r [‎1 patient]‎. Translocation t[‎15;17]‎ was detected in 63% of cases. APL constitutes a high proportion of AML cases in Qatar, with considerable morphological heterogeneity and a predominance of APL variants with unfavourable presenting features